Solar Leasing

Home Owners Save Money With Solar Lease

Those who cannot afford to purchase a photovoltaic system have the option to rent one. With solar leasing, high up-front costs can be avoided and electricity costs lowered. Leasing can require, however, some dependence on a solar company and in the long run savings are not typically as high as they would be with a fully-owned system.

When the solar lease expires, it can then be extended or cancelled. By the end of a solar lease, the responsible company will then remove the solar panel system.

Disadvantages of Solar Lease

The length of solar lease contracts are typically 10, 15, or 20 years. This may become problematic when a home owner wants to sell his house, as the solar leasing rate must still be paid.

After years, home owners using solar leasing will continue to have their monthly bill as the system still belongs to the solar lease company. Alternatively, a purchased photovoltaic system produces free power, once installation costs are covered.

Home owners engaging in a solar lease also do not profit directly from financial incentives and solar rebates, as they are not buying the system. Rather, it is the solar lease company that profits from these incentives.

PV-Roof-System. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

If the goal is to go off grid completely without any power costs, this requires the purchase of an own solar system and is not possible with solar leasing.

Advantages of Solar Lease

With a solar lease there is not a high up-front investment as there is for home owners who decide to buy a PV system.

In general, a photovoltaic system lowers the monthly electricity bill. In combination with the solar leasing rate, monthly costs are usually still lower than before. Also, during a long solar lease costs will be locked in and will not rise during the entire solar lease.

In addition, maintenance, monitoring, and repair costs are usually covered by the leasing company. Whether you wish to buy or solar lease a PV system, both ways have a positive effect on the environment and reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.